Hanoi – Halong Bay – Nam Dinh – Ninh Binh Ecotour – 5 Days

Add more marvelous attractions in your trip by a whole day immersing in history, cultures, and religions in Hanoi. Move to the East to reach Halong Bay, one of the seven Natural Wonders in the World. Experience life in the countryside with traditional villages as well as amazing constructions at the home of rice. Then explore another wonderful “Halong Bay on the ground” and behold the largest pagodas in Southeast Asia at the ancient Vietnamese capital.

The first destination of the tour, Hanoi, deserves your visit for a whole day. From ancient religious constructions, interesting museums preserving the values of the 4000-year-old country to skyscrapers and bustling shopping malls, Hanoi is the great combination of tradition and modern, vibrant but still peaceful.

According to legend, the Heaven God sent dragons to Vietnam and help the locals defeat the foreign enemies. Then these dragons did not return to heaven but stayed in Vietnam creating Halong Bay nowadays. The beauty of myth and nature is recognized by UNESCO as one of the New World Wonders.

Nam Dinh is the next stop of your historical journey after Hanoi. This destination owns the long-established cultures and history which is considered as the heart of Red River Delta and the root of rice and pho, two most important features of Vietnamese people.

Your journey from the capital will take you to another ancient one in Ninh Binh. In history, this place was chosen due to its majestic mountains forming sustainable walls in wars against enemies. At present, they are not covered by blood of invaders but the green of floras and the yellow of rice fields.

Brief Itineraries

Duration: 5 Days/ 4 Nights

Tour Route: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Nam Dinh – Ninh Binh – Hanoi

Tour Types: Culture and History – Explore and Experience

Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay (G, L, D)

09:00 Our tour guide and car will pick you up at your hotel and then transfer to Haiphong on the highway, the 4th biggest city in Vietnam, where you will start the cruise.

12:00 Arrival at Got ferry. The tender will take you to Cruise for boarding. You will receive a warm welcome by our Captain and his crew with drink and some refreshing towels. You have lunch while enjoying the beauty of the canals on our way to Halong Bay.

15:00 We arrive at Light and Dark Cave Area, where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat rowed by local people.

17:30 Return to Cruise, take a refreshing shower. Happy Hour will be offered while you can enjoy the sunset in this magnificent bay. Then take part in a cooking demonstration by our chef to learn about Vietnamese cuisine.

19:00 A great dining experience awaits you.

20:30 Socialize with other guests, try your luck with squid fishing or just laze around. Singing and dancing activities are available till 22:00. Overnight on board.

Day 3: Cat Ba Island – Nam Dinh (G, B, L, D)

06:30 Wake up early to enjoy the dawn and start a new day with Tai Chi exercise on the top deck.

7:00 – 8:00 A light continental breakfast will be served while Calypso Cruise moves to Gia Luan wharf.

08:30 You take a bus route in 20 minutes to visit Army Hospital Cave in Cat Ba Island, an interesting place to save the history of significance of Vietnam during the resistance war against America. The cave consisted of a surgery room, eating room, meeting room, sport room, etc. During the travel, you will be immersed in the natural scenery of the wild, fresh of Cat Ba Island.

10:00 Return the boat, check out your cabin then have lunch in the restaurant while the cruise sails back to pier.

12:00 Disembark the boat and return to port.

12:30 Get in the car, and transfer to Nam Dinh on the highway.

16:00 – 16:30 Arrival at Ecohost Hai Hau, check in and take your time to relax.

19:00 And enjoy dinner with local food and then you can enjoy optional traditional music show of Red River Delta (Cheo, Van singing, Quan Ho folk song,…) (optional)– the intangible culture of Vietnam and UNESCO.

Overnight in Ecohost – Live with enthusiastic of local people.

Day 4: Nam Dinh – Ninh Binh (G, B, L, D)

07:00 Have a breakfast with typical local food of countryside such as corn, sweet potato or “pho Co” – a famous kind of noodles in Nam Dinh.

After the sweet breakfast, you will have a half-day bicycle tour to visit Pham Phao cathedral and Traditional trumpet making Brass village. On the way, you will also see Tile-roofed Bridge was built in the 16th century with unique architecture. Visit and experience the way to make a conical hat at a local house. Explore the daily life of local people and understand about the ancestor worship village.

11:00 You will have lunch at Ecohost Hai Hau. After lunch, you will check out Ecohost and transfer to visit Hai Ly church and fishing village before leaving to Ninh Binh.

15:00 Get in the car and transfer to Ninh Binh. Check in hotel and relax. Free at night in Ninh Binh

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (G, B, L)

07:30 Have a breakfast at hotel.

09:00 – 11:30 Visit Bai Dinh Spiritual and Culture Complex, the largest Buddhist pagoda complex in the North of Vietnam.

12:00 Have lunch in a local restaurant with some Asian local special dishes. Then transfer to visit Trang An tourist attraction, take boat trip to visit cave complex: Nam cave, Vong Cave, Thanh Truot Cave, Dai Cave, Film School – here, the huts are restored and reproduced the scene of the everyday life, the aboriginal abode appeared in the famous Kong movie, see scenery of mountain and rivers.

16:00 Finish at your hotel in Hanoi.

SERVICES INCLUDED

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast/ L=Lunch/ D=Dinner);
• One night cruise in Halong Bay, one night at Ecohost and one night in Ninh Binh;
• Boat fee in Trang An;
• Services of a driver and private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers;
• Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary;
• Experienced English-speaking guide during all tours and transfers (G=Guide);
• Mineral water is available as complementary;
• Traditional music show: Available on your request.

• Cut-off date: 10 days
• Booking acknowledgment: We acknowledge your booking request within 48 hours and send you the booking confirmation within 72 hours.
• Payment and cancellation policy: Payment will be made by bank transfer or credit card within 7 days since we send you the confirmation of services via email.

CANCELLATION FEES

• 10 days before arrival date: FOC
• Within 05 – 09 days before arrival date: 50 % of the tour price
• Within 05 days before arrival date or No show: 100 % of the tour price

Price

• The prices quoted are based on US dollar valuation. Although we ensure our prices are updated, events beyond our control such as changes to the price of aviation fuel or changes to the cost of services and facilities, may result in prices charged to you. Prices, therefore, can only be guaranteed once full payment has been received.

Ecohost is a Vietnam high-quality ecotourism model based on community, founded by a team of experts who have the same goal of developing sustainable tourism. Ecohost supports the ecotourism community in Vietnam through training, loans and image promotion. At the same time, Ecohost brings local and foreign tourists to be closer and guides tourists to visit, experience, and use local products on responsible and sustainable criteria.